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Odyssey of the Mind Long-Term Problems

Every year Odyssey HQ releases new problems that touch on six different areas that have direct connections to real-world challenges and imaginative themes.

Students will discover and be introduced to the fundamentals of STEAM while practicing the skill of working with others to solve fun problems and building solutions from recycled items and components in innovative ways. All the while, they will be working within a budget and learning how to make the most of everything.

2024-2025 Problems

It’s a Wonderful World!

2024-2025 Odyssey of the Mind Primary Problem

The OH-Mazing Race

Odyssey of the Mind Problem One - vehicle

Mech-Animal Sidekick

Odyssey of the Mind Problem Two - Technical

Classics… Cooking with Books

Odyssey of the Mind Problem Three - Classics

Save Me Structure

2024-2025 Odyssey of the Mind Problem Four

AstronOMical Odyssey

2024-2025 Odyssey of the Mind Problem Five - Performance

 Spontaneous

In competition, every team solves a spontaneous problem. This part of the competition is called “Spontaneous” because teams don’t know what they’ll have to do until they enter the competition room; spontaneous problems are kept “top secret.” Solving spontaneous problems teaches students to think on their feet and to creatively solve problems as they arise.

2024-2025 Long-Term Problem Synopses

*Remember that these are just a taste of the challenge to come.  DO NOT try to solve the problem from this small note.  Complete problem details will be out by the end of August. You need a membership to access the complete problem.

LATEST NEWS
  • Tuesday Tip: Practice Spontaneous
    Because the Spontaneous problem is unknown until the day of the tournament, parents and coaches can share what they would do in practice problems without any penalty.
  • How to Prepare for Spontaneous Competition
    Now that we’re in the thick of the Odyssey Season, it’s time for a few timely reminders and some suggestions to help your team during Spontaneous practices as they prepare for Spontaneous competitions.
  • Tuesday Tip: Assiging Homework
    As we begin Winter Break, there’s still a lot on the team’s To Do list. You, as the coach, can assign homework or say something like, “We need some committed team members who can work on one or two of these items on the list before our next meeting.”